Navy intel chief: Chinese missile is effective

Officials were surprised by China’s rapid development of a ballistic missile thought capable of striking ships at sea, but the jury is still out as to whether Internet images of a purported Chinese stealth fighter are evidence of a similar breakthrough in the air, the Navy’s intelligence director told reporters Wednesday.

“Their anti-ship missile — we underestimated when they would be competent and capable in delivering a technological weapon of that type,” said Vice Adm. Jack Dorsett, the deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance and the service’s intelligence director.

Dorsett was referring to development and testing of the Dong Feng 21D, a land-based anti-ship ballistic missile that officials now say has reached its initial operating capability.

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